CrackBerry's James Richardson went hands-on with BlackBerry 10 today and brought back some hot photos and initial reactions!

I had the pleasure of attending BlackBerry 10 Jam in London earlier today. The keynote sessions were not too disimilar to what we saw at BlackBerry World in Orlando, however that wasn't the main reason I was there. I was on a mission to find BlackBerry 10 running on the dev alpha device and luckily for me this had been arranged in advance.

So thanks to Vivek Bardwaj, of Research In Motion, I had a one to one session with his device. I wasn't expecting to see anything that had not already been shown off, however seeing a new OS on a big screen and getting hands on are two totally different things. To say I was excited would be an understatement.

Fortunately my high expectations of what I was allowed to play with on the device were lived up to. BlackBerry 10 is awesome!

The seamless integration of the apps all running live, coupled with the screen gestures to allow for seeing other features/apps is glorious. It's all about the flow. And that wasn't even on final hardware.

Flowing between inbox, message and .pdf. Gotta love it!

As you can see from the pictures in this post, the new operating system looks beautiful. I was a little unsure in advance if I would like the touch screen keyboard but after a little practice it all flows very naturally. The 'flicking' of the predicted words upwards works well as do the other keyboard gestures such as swiping left across the keyboard to delete a word, and swiping downwards to switch to the further screens that contain numbers and symbols.

I think even physical keyboard guys will love the BB10 touchscreen keyboard

Flicking up predicted words on the BlackBerry 10 keyboard

I'm very much a hardware QWERTY keyboard guy but I can see myself using this device for sure, as soon as possible.

Prior to today I was under the impression that RIM *could* reclaim some market share lost to Android and iOS with BlackBerry 10. Now I am 100% sure that will happen. The developers present today were also super excited but CrackBerry's DJ Reyes will cover that in another post later.

I hope you find the picture gallery encouraging. I know each time a re-look at the photos I get a warm feeling somewhere inside.

The BlackBerry 10 Homescreen

I need Q4 to arrive quickly! I'm not sure how I can handle the waiting now I have spent some time with just a few features on the device. And according to Vivek there is plenty of amazing stuff yet to be announced.

I shall dream of BlackBerry 10 tonight. And tomorrow, and the day after.........

Pages

1- Nothing new with the UI...same as Android or Apple
2- You guys talking about how great the OS will be by just looking at some pictures??? hahaha
3- Tooooo late to come to the market with an UI that might be new for you guys but it looks very old in the real world!
4- As for Blackberry, the company has announced the delay of their Blackberry 10. Instead of releasing Blackberry 10 this year, the target release date for Blackberry 10 was pushed to next year. Despite this setback, Thorsten Heins, the CEO for Blackberry remarked that they are working "around the clock" in order to release Blackberry 10 by the first quarter of 2013. YET ANOTHER SETBACK?!?!?!

I am soooo looking forward to this. I am in desparate need of a new phone and have been leaning towards the iphone. However I have been holding off to see what RIM unveils. This new phone may renew my faith in RIM. I live near Waterloo, ON where RIM is located and they employ a lot of people(and friends) in the region. If this phone is not successful, I can see RIM folding

Everybody is hoping for a quicker bb10 launch...well , i guess they should bring it out 7/10 in place of 10/10... Why 7/10? They actually have a nice os 7 (some people forget about it). En ofcourse os 10 will be the best bb ever ! So i would like to see it come out on 7/10. Makes a 3day difference.... Worth it ?

I can't wait to get BB10 running on my PlayBook! Time is the worst enemy for RIM now because customers will soon stop buying non-BB10 BlackBerry smartphones while waiting for the BB10 ones to come out. RIM should get rid of all smartphones at substantial discount prices (nobody will buy a new Bold 9900, even discounted, in August), stop production of all non-BB10 devices, stop developing BB7.x and Tablet OS 2.x, and release BB10 on the PlayBook in a couple of months, tops. Or at least release the Cascades libraries for the PB. PB owners are the best testing market for BB10, let them have it. This would also increase PlayBook sales to compensate for smartphone loses. Put all RIM software developers on BB10 now, get it out ASAP.

I'd rather have the version with keyboard cause if the touchscreen is as crappy as the bold 9930 I'm gonna toss it in the trash. My upgrade date is aug 4th and I'm getn the iphone. Enough said. Tired of being brainwashed by rim. Everytime they release a new phone I jump right on the wagon and buy it. And within days I'm messing with the OS trying to make things better. Honestly I'm tired of repairing blackberry's. We shouldn't have fix our phones to make em work. They should come running out the box. I love blackberry but I'm tired of having a company that ships phones with issues cause they know there's people out there that will fix it. I've done soo many OS swaps that I feel like I should get paid by RIM. If my blackberry ran lots of the apps I needed I wouldn't care but enough Is enough. Everywhere I look I see signs and advertisemnts for stuff and it says "availible for apple OS and droid". But what about blackberry? Exactly my reason for giving up on RIM. Xbox 360 allows you to control ur xbox basically through ur phone. But ONLY apple and droid. That's enough RIM...bye bye

Why do people come here to bitch about some random problem and then proclaim the are buying the next newest iPhone or Android device when they are eligible for their next upgrade? What is your obscure issue with the touch screen on your 9930 as the two 9900s and one 9930 in my house haven't had ANY touchscreen issues?

Ps. I'm sooo pissed that I can't control my lawnmower and snowblower with my BlackBerry like iPhone/Android users can. /end sarcasm. Why on God's green earth do you want to control your Xbox360 with your phone?

There's no doubt in my mind that The BB10 OS will be awesome. The only concern I have is that ugly looking brick it's running on.

In the last 4 years, their design team has done nothing special to make our handsets stand out. in fact, in my opinion, the decline in popularity and sales of blackberry weights more on their failure to improve hardware rather than the OS itself. The design team should be held accountable for being too in love with cheap plastic piano black handsets that look so tired and overused. If you'll notice the device forums, all you can see there are posts about faulty keys, dust in the screen, wobbly sliders, battery complaints, and durability issues. It is already sad that we have to live with tired old designed phones but adding quality control and manufacturing issues to the problem just kills RIM more.

I sincerely hope they compliment BB10 with the proper hardware it deserves...that test device just won't cut it in today's standards. I mean seriously, look at the concept forums, there are so many great options there for a modern design that will take BB10 to the next level and save RIM from extinction.

It's no longer enough that we have a great OS, if you've got a phone as ugly as that one in the photo,or maybe looks similar to any of the designs RIM has used in the last 5 years, non blackberry users won't even give it the time and day to even turn it on and discover the great OS inside it. You have to spark some curiosity by giving it a unique and fresh design then just let the OS bring home the bacon.

Look at what Kia and Hyundai have achieved simply by firing the old design team and bringing in top gun designers....it's not rocket science. You've already nailed the hardest part which is the OS, all RIM needs now is a major hardware design overhaul, and for everyone's sake I hope they see the light before its too late.

This is a nice looking phone. I like the look of the UI too. QNX is really solid so hopefully there will not be too many initial bugs.

What does scare me is RIM's long term habit of launching product with bits missing. The PlayBook came out to no native email (yes, I know why) and it took ages to release this. The lack of a Theme Builder for OS7 has prevented many BlackBerry users from enjoying one of the main unique features of owning a BlackBerry. Please RIM bring BB10 to market with full functionality.

Now, I want a BB10 device with a REAL KEYBOARD. I do not like touch screen only. I have a 9810 and my user experienced would be considerably enhanced if this phone DID NOT have a touch screen.

Lastly I hope that RIM have incorporated priniting directly from the phone into BB10. This was one of the very,very few things I liked in the iPhone.

"I think even physical keyboard guys will love the BB10 touchscreen keyboard"
Not this guy. Why would a qwerty phys guy buy this phone when we've tried all the droids and returned them? Droid is no doubt a f*cking great device, but all 3 that's THREE 600 something dollar Droid phones I bought, I've returned because of that glass keyboard. Sorry guys, I'm not one of you, and I refuse to support a BB10 all touch device.
"Typed on what I guess will be my device for the next 3 years until RIM makes a phys qwerty, a 9930"

Loving the pictures! I started off reading the text and then my eyes just took over and ravished the wonderful full colour shots of that amazing device. Can't wait for it to drop! Having said that, I only just got my own BB in March so I have some time left...you won't hear me complaining too loudly about it though! I have no complaints whatsoever with RIM.

I am positively moist with anticipation..... And I'm not even a chick!! This looks wonderful, nice to see reactions after being the hands of a CrackBerry guy. Take your time RIM and get it right. I have my pocket money saved and it's got your name on it!!!!

It's all about core apps, The iOS and Anroid sucks from tech and look perspective but it's ALL ECOSYSTEM..RIM, pay to get more core apps, do whatever takes to get core apps and then see. If core apps such as neflix, facebook, twitter, skype, maps, etc. are there that will satisfy 80% of users out there.

Let's face it, all of this talk is silly. RIM's problem is not that something cooler is on the way, it is they have no clue how to market. I sell Cell Phones. BBY WIN7, Android and iPhones. It has been said of the new iPhone 5 that even if it will give you ESP and allow you to walk on water, two months after its release people will be talking about what is going to be in the iPhone 6. It doesn't matter. People will still be buying the iPhone 6 because Apple knows how to market. Will RIM ever learn this?

Why hasn't anyone asked the really important question yet? Or maybe they have and I just don't know it. Anyways:

When you say the BB10, are meaning that BB10 is the name of the phone or the OS? If it's not the OS, what OS will this new phone be operating? Will it be OS 2.0? If it is a new OS, what does that mean for those of us who currently own the Playbook? Will the Playbook get an OS update? If not, what should we expect in terms of bridge capabilities between this phone and the playbook?

I don't know if that has been asked before but it has been answered numerous times before by RIM...

But first of all BB10 is the OS name...not the update number...that's the name (just like iOS and Android are the names) BB10...

So with that being said the phone can be called whatever they decide and for us owning a PlayBook it means that shortly after the release of the first BB10 phone the PlayBook will receive the BB10 update OTA...

And in terms of bridge between BB10 phones and Tablets we don't know of yet but it will at least be identical to what we have now but can expect the bridge capabilities to be enhanced much more than we would expect!

The OS looks great, but that's only part of the entire process of choosing a device.

As it stands, if it's anything like the playbook, I will have to pass. For starters, for the BB10's to be on par with Android it MUST have the following:

1. Support for consumer grade VPN (PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN) - android has this.
2. Support for Netflix and skype - android has this.
3. USB host capabilities - at least for the BB10 tablets (I think Android has this).
4. Some sort of native Teamviewer support not via browser - android has this.

These are the limiting factors that my playbook has. As it stands, I gave it to my wife and she just uses it to surf the web. If it could do all that though, it would have replaced my laptop - like my Asus transformer prime has.

Feature for BB10 Homescreen (if its not already in there but we havent seen it)...

PlayBook allows buttons on the top to be functional, unlike other OS' where the top displays information about bluetooth being on, time, service, wifi...etc. What BB10 should do to distinguish from the competition is to have the top bar trigger a drop down menu of sorts (not similar to Android or Apple because those show Notifications)...BB10 swiping from the right will bring up notifications, this will be a tap on the status bar at the top to drop down toggle functions for bluetooth, wifi, airplane mode, landscape orientation, etc. Android has that in the dropdown menu within certain phones like SG3 will have it, not sure which else does. But RIM is all about business and business is about saving time and working efficiently, so what is more efficient than having all of your main settings one touch away...OR make it a gesture based movement, like swiping down from the top, although if it is like PlayBook swiping down from top will open App Menus...

Just an idea, and hopefully someone here on CrackBerry...KEVIN! can write an article about potential features we would like to see within BB10 on release...and pass this along to RIM!

Does anyone know if on the homescreen the 4 minimized apps can be thrown away like on the PlayBook? I am assuming you throw them away to close, but I have not seen this anywhere and I am wondering how they close the apps there

One thing concerns me a little. I love being able to hold and use only one hand on my 9930. This all because of the keyboard, dedicated menu and scroll buttons. Now the new BB10 will all be touchscreen and using gestures. Will it still be possible to use only one hand easily? I am not talking about laying it down using one hand. I don't think so. :( Or am I wrong?

What are the spec will be when it launch?? Anything close to S3 (4.8" Display, 2,200mAh, Quad-Core, 2GB RAM) ?? UI looks better than OS7.. I don't worry of to much apps as long they have those essential (fb, twitter, skype, whatsapp, bbm).. We always have option for the time being just wait till it launch.. and get a better taste of it soon!!

Actually I do believe Android has a "flow". Swipe down the notification bar and all notifications are accessible, as well as settings and ongoing apps. It's maybe not as polished as what I have seen initially from BB10 but it's there.

Lower resolution screen? The Dev Alpha device has a resolution of 1280x768. In other words, it is better than the "retina display" and slightly better than many of the Android devices which run at 1280x720.

The only thing that looks like iOS is the grid of apps. As others have said, it looks more like a cross between Windows Phone and Android. And its not a bad thing if RIM borrows UI ideas and conventions from others. Good ideas are good ideas, regardless of who comes up with them. This will be a good mix, with some additional UI features that are unique to BB10. And there is more we haven't been told about too...

Take the best ideas from everybody else and make something awesome. Nothing wrong with that. I like that it has borrowed UI characteristics from all kinds of devices. I can see WebOS in there, even old Nokia. And then they add the "peek" swipe gesture, which I think is the coolest part. The easier and slicker the multitasking is, and the easier it is to jump to notifications list, the better.

Sigh.... The retards are always in full force to bash everything that is RIM. I dont know what so hard in giving credit where credit is due. Low Resolution? How did dales arrive to that conclusion? That screen looks rather crisp to me ... FYI its the highest dpi on any phone ATM for that matter! So stop hating dude and enjoy the "sneak peek"

This is very impressive. So far this device or Windows Phone are neck and neck as an upgrade to my 9900. The one thing blackberry has to do is make sure the environment is perfect. My Playbook and this should be partners.

Maybe this was said earlier. . .but it looks like a combo of the new Windows system and some Android thrown in which when I consider the attempt to cross platform RIMS stuff with Android apps makes me wonder if they are trying as a fallback to make themselves an attractive takeover target to Google.

That being said, I guess for a touch screen device it seems nice. I am not that jazzed as I got my 9900 specifically for the keys. If there was a device with the screen length and physical keyboard (as I posited in a General discussion) I would be more "excited." Oh, and no damn little black clock!!!

I guess since I can give a care less about the zillions of apps and music ability of these touch phones and use my 9900 as a phone, email communicator my reaction is probably expected.

I'll wait and see obviously and hope that this proves well so I don't get an email from ATT telling my that my device being phased out and to get some other touch screen. . .

The good, that screen looks tremendous, as crisp and clear as any I have seen and that's the dev device - not the final product - so I really look forward to the hardware if the screens are going to look like that - thats gonna catch a lot of eyes!

The bad as I see it - not having played with it - the "homescreen" looks like 4 widgets and I am not at all a fan of widgets I much prefer my home screen clear with one button access to applications ala Android. One negative I have found playing with touch screens is casual touches have unexpected consequences some not so good.

I echo the questions about battery life if all programs run live in the widgets especially. I have read some who believe that QNX will have a leg up in the power management area - and that will be a key IMHO and where BB10 has a chance to shine if it's true.

Seeing this raises as many questions as it answers - not sure how flow is going to work in every day life. I promise to stay tuned to further updates!

Patience my young padawans..... for the Force is with us. BB10 will be in our hands soon and we will conquer the Dark Side. The Emperor of the Apple empire will learn humility in time. But we must not rush the release.... no, we must wait for the time to be right. The Force will guide us to the BB10 launch and all will be revealed.

AND NOW THE TIME WILL BE: HAHAHAHA
As for Blackberry, the company has announced the delay of their Blackberry 10. Instead of releasing Blackberry 10 this year, the target release date for Blackberry 10 was pushed to next year. Despite this setback, Thorsten Heins, the CEO for Blackberry remarked that they are working "around the clock" in order to release Blackberry 10 by the first quarter of 2013.

Caught on the fence between the full touch screen or keypad, but to help me out is my Trustee PlayBook, will up grade it to BB10 and if the touch experience wins me over, would buy the first BB10 device as soon as its released.
Great post James!

Everybody is dreaming of a bright future for BB10 but we have to be a little realistic. It's still at least 5 months before the release. What about Apps ? Do not get too excited yet, you might be very disappointed.

In RIM's defense they are doing everything right regarding apps. Holding the BB10 Jam around the world, giving devs on other platforms the chance to see how easy it can be to port to BB10/QNX.
I think the number of attendees at these events speak for itself.

Exfactor besides being a troll... If you want to talk about rim ripping off apple, clearly that's been apples m.o for decades. But like the blind sheep apple users are they are gullible for the same old same old.

RIM is building bb10 from the ground up. If you enjoy the outdated ios be my guest. Ios is past it's prime with the same boring look every new model. How is that siri working in Canada for you. Wait it's practically useless.

Can't wait for bb10. Will show all the trolls who is innovative once and for all.

Sent from my playbook with Flash and the highest ratings for tablets in the html 5 test. BB 10 it will smoke all tablets even higher in the points.

Although RIM was too late for me (switched to a Galaxy Nexus in January and am loving it), it is nice to see that they are finally turning a corner and producing something worth talking about. Hopefully it will bring some more innovation to the smartphone market.

BlackBerry fans are awesome. I know it is a self serving comment but it is true.

Sure, we love our Bold/Torch/Curve devices but we have taken a beating in the U.S. Despite the relentless media and just uninformed people attacking BlackBerry every day. We are still here and we are still fans of the great BlackBerry brand.

I will get a BB10 the day it comes out but I will still keep my Bold 9900 at the ready. I love the physical keyboard and I'm open to the BB10 keyboard being awesome enough to actually make me like it but my trusty Bold will not be sold.

We can see a light at the end of the tunnel and we stayed true to our brand. My hats off to all BlackBerry fans. We are almost there.

Too bad that there are no pictures of the lock screen, that we've seen mock ups of (with the cinnamon toast notifications). Perhaps that hasn't been implemented yet though in the build they are demoing.

BB needs to stick to it's "roots" by elevating and perfecting the Keyboard experience. Like it or not, people still operate their phone while driving and a physical keyboard makes it that much easier. ***statistics prove that ALL texting related vehicle accidents that have taken place involved a touchscreen. No devices with a physical keyboard were involved.*** So, alright, I made that up but my texting and basic operation of my BB has been perfected because of buttons and the keyboard. WE DON't NEED NO STINKING TOYS and I believe that's where BB went wrong. They had the "biz" niche "locke & loaded" so it's time to reclaim their place in that regard by making that the 1st device available with BB10. Good luck RIM. You have legions of fans who simply love their devices. Stay and fight. The Business arena is all yours if you simply take it back.

Looks nice but personally I need a physical keyboard. I have a 4th generation ipod touch and use imessage to yack to my mom and make so many typing mistakes. I don't have large hands and it doesn't seem to get any easier.

After seeing this I am now a little stuck on what to do, either come back to BB or pick up WP 8. I currently have a Nokia Lumia 900 (still have my 9900 as well) and have made plans to buy the next WP release later this year but I'm not so sure any more. I'm loving the look of everything now I guess its a wait and see moment.

I like RIM's version of Swipe UI better than Nokia's Meego/Harmattan. Hopefully they can get developers on the BB10 ship and make a comeback. RIM has a chance now with Apple's iOS 6 not really coming up with anything ground breaking and Windows Metro UI is unimpressive.

Don't get me wrong. I am as excited as anyone about the new BB10 phones. BUT I am trying to keep an open mind and am wondering how will this compare to the iPhone. From the little I know and I am no tech person it looks like the new BB10 phone might be just getting RIM caught up to Apple.
What will this phone be able to do and not do that the iPhone currently do?
Please don't flame me I am a long time BB user just trying to understand.

Up until this point I thought RIM bought several companies and were creating a brand new operating system, tailored to the power user, but I'm glad you cam along and cleared the air on their intention to support only one "swipe into message" killer feature.

I love how it all looks, and I am excited about having the device. I am wondering if you can have a clean screen where there is nothing on it, no icons, no widgets, just the wallpaper and the status far with the time and network info.

You forgot something very important: when you hold the "alt" key and drag to a number/symbol and release, does it switch back to qwerty or do you have to press the key again? As nice as the play book's keyboard is, that little omission is rather frustrating. Also, what about app switching from within an app? Was there a gesture for that or do you have to go back to the home screen every time?

The tiles are very nice, did they say if they can be customized? The tile that is labeled pictures, did they say anything about if your own picture that you have taken would be shown on the home screen like the windows phones? I would like that, it shows attention to detail and that's what I like most about BlackBerry. I can't wait for BB10!!!

I can now say, with full confidence, that I will pre-order BB10 as soon as pre-order processes are put in place!!!

Yes it is tough not to become worried sometimes with all the negative news surrouning RIM and as Kevin stated before, almost any news until BB10 launches will be bad. But I am confident and I am excited to the extreme! Maybe what we saw in these photos was nothing new but the way it was presented just made me really happy. Sure I am one who lives by the 9900/9930 keyboard but I will not have a problem using full touchscreen BB10 when it is made available and if all else fails, I will still have my 9930.

But I am excited! Very excited! Excited for RIM, excited for CrackBerry Nation and the entire smartphone eco system!

2012 is destined to bring greatness and RIM looks like they have something cooking for us and I am proud to be a part of this amazing community of supporters regardless of the BlackBerry bashing that is constantly surrounding us!

I'm having trouble getting excited over this, though I appeciate Mr. Richardson's contribution here. I've just seen too much sunshine being blown up RIM's backside here; let's face it...this is a fanboy site (I say this not to be critical, but rather truthful). Negative feedback is not welcome, positive feedback is too often over the top. So it's hard for me to read this write-up and get excited that this is the actual goods. Perhaps BB10 is, or will be, amazing; sadly this isn't the site to communicate that. It's too biased.

I say this kindly, but when you visit a site that is all about BlackBerry would you really expect us "fan boys" to really bash our beloved BlackBerry's? The same holds true for the imore sister site. iPhone users will flock and praise the news whatever it may be. I say this for no debate, but maybe you should seek out sites like BGR or ZDNet that give reviews as is rather than to leave a comment like yours.

I specifically stated that, as expected, there would be no criticism...of course it's a fan boy site. And I say that without judgment. The point I was making is that this site is seemingly unable to convey an unbiased opinion, and for that reason, a "hands-on" is of little use, though I do appreciate the effort the writer went to.

But here's a thought; your suggestion that I have no business leaving a comment that expresses my opinion is precisely the problem that I'm trying to communicate.

Whats wrong with a little excitement over something we love Apple releases something and theres media coverage and fantastical news stories about how little jimmy was trapped in a well..but luckily he had his iPhone with him and was able to call for help....contrary to popular belief not everyone likes iOS or Android ....and you can post negitive stuff all you want just be prepared to defend that comment is all

Wow...fly off the handle much? First, to address your last sentence, precisely where did I post something negative? And to be clear, I don't have an iPhone, or an Android device. I have a 9900, and a Playbook.

My point was that this site has no consistency. In one article, the virtues of the physical keyboard are extolled, but in the next, that BB10 doesn't need it because the virtual keyboard is good enough. On the one hand, BB's are better than iPhones, because the latter are nothing more than toys, but a day later, an article about how great it is that more games are being released for BB's and Playbook. The common theme is that everything RIM touches is gold. I firmly believe that RIM could put a turd in a box, and it would be written up as the finest turd that ever there was. And that's the problem. If RIM can do no wrong, and if no criticisms can be levelled, then if I was the guy doing the hands-on, why would I write about it? I would know that, by a segment of the readership (including myself), the comments would be taken with a huge grain of salt.

It's not quite like the boy who cried wolf, but it's close.

And for the record, I hope RIM does well, but blind faith won't save them. The people at this site won't save them. Although the readers here might be prepared to buy a turd in a box, theres not enough such buyers to turn things around. They better make sure it's no turd.

I thought I was going to wait for the first BB10 device with a keyboard, but that isn't happening. I began hating my DROID X mainly because it was all touch, but lately I've been missing the big screen. Hopefully typing really is a better experience on this phone. The day this is released I will have it in my possession.

I forgot to add in my previous post:
I investigated what blackberry was doing about applications which has put people off buying BB. Here is what I found:

- Android runtime allows simpe and quick porting (and free) of Droid apps to QNX
- Applications can be developed in HTML5. Applications for the smartphone can be distributed via a website, BlackBerry Desktop Manager or the BlackBerry App World storefront.
- BB has BlackBerry 10 SDK for Adobe AIR
- Develop feature rich UI's using Cascades
- BlackBerry 10 Native C\C++ SDK supports many open source libraries

I then checked all the top apps I use on daily basis available now in storefront and I found 100% of the all there! In fact the trading apps I have are full featured on Blackberry where on Android they are cut back die to security concerns.

Sorry but I have been in the technology game for 20 yrs and I will keep on buys RIM shares while the "pro's" are selling. My only fear now is they get bought out or go private before BB10 smashes the smartphone market.

That is just a pile of...Awesomeness!!! @James, great coverage! I would have been so giddy like a school girl. Clearly not the official, but even so there are some UI icons especially on the bar that could be slicker and refreshed altogether. Those icons seem final for the most part. Anyhow, I can't wait to for BlackBerry 10, I'm getting this no matter what. This wait is starting to give me insomniac nights.

Well, this was another good teaser, and it was the first hands-on for a BlackBerry fan. Still unfinished so we're still a few months away; but, this build is at least a couple months old now. If RIM does manage to port all the goodies from BlackBerry 7 to BB10 plus a little more magic, then they'll be ahead of Apple and Android with a new next gen OS and a flashy looking UI. I'm not impressed with the homescreen or the icon tray -- yuck. Too plain and not enough info on the screen. BB7's homescreen has the following available or one touch away:

I really love the way it all works together -- lots of info in a simple to use & uncluttered UI. Yeah, when the screen is locked, it could show more info that you could customize. However, this BB7 UI rocks! In comparision, thus far, BB10 looks too plain. It suggests that some of those essential elements may be too far away. Of course, I am speculating, but this is based on what I've seen of BB10 so far. I hope development has gone beyond the bare bones.

We keep talking about the flow. I can dig that, but I hope app integration (i.e., superapps concept) is even stronger in BB10.

Anyway, you can also expect RIM will be keeping some secrets for launch. If all goes on schedule, RIM will have a long and wide 32 lane highway ahead paved for BlackBerry to excel! Hmmm, if so, my RIM shares will not only bounce back, they'll rocket right to outta space!! :)

BTW, as I write this, an Apple iPhone 4S commercial demonstrates what the iPhone can do without any words. This ad shows how easy it is the use the iPhone by just showing what it can do. I wish RIM's commercials were so compelling! I don't mind the personalized stories of BlackBerry users but you've got to show people actually using the device! Talk is cheap! Gee, just watching the IPhone commercial makes me think I can easily use the iPhone. Do you guys remember the teaser BB6 video? It was slick and sexy because it actually showed how BB6 worked! RIM needs more of the same.

G'way little troll. Are you referring to iClone OS 6 just now having built in a bedside mode copied from BlackBerry where it has been available for years? (a decade?) Sometimes good ideas are just good ideas that everybody builds into their devices.
Sent from my BlackBerry Neutrino powered Playbook soon to be upgraded to BB10!

I laugh at you weak minded iBot idiots. "Ooh, look at the stock price, look at Apple's sales, blah blah blah". Stock price is only an INDICATOR, it isn't the end all-be all measurement of a company's success/health/etc. And Apple will still sell because of mindless drones like you that think Apple is almighty.

Ps. Shouldn't you be waiting in line for the new iPhoney and the new new iFad?

Only because Steve Jobs died and had the good sense to whore for his biography because he had Narcissistic Personality Disorder. 10 (as in BB 10)years ago apple was worth sh!t (as in "getting sh!t done).
BBye!

I,m a BlackBerry addict and nothing would harm me more than to see RIM disappearing from market, but sadly I have to agree... BB10 arrives too late- and we could pray as much as we want to, but its like it is...

Come on guys. He's clearly "hanicapped". He has time to troll because the short yellow bus didn't wait for him. Give him props for not drooling onto his bib. When he was born the doctor didn't slap him, the doctor slapped his mom. Not his fault.

Really? I could not stand my useless iphone4s. That was all hype and totally useless for everyday life. Many people are getting sick of apple hype and many people are switching back to Blackberries. People now laugh at those who own iphones as one would have to be gullible to swallow the apple koolaid. Sorry trolls no need to reply but you guys do have a living to make. Apple sucks and that is a spreading known fact.

Who else but an insecure,pusilanimous little kcuf would spend time p!ssing into someone else's tent?
You think any of us speed time over on android or iphone?
No. We couldn't be arsed.
We know we're coming out in front.
BBye!

Hi, must say I am sold to. I had already decided to hold off on a tablet until PB LTE/HSDPA comes out (cant be arsed teethering). I had 3GS, now on Galaxy II and wife had iPhone 4 and iPad II. Here are some reasons why I will defect to Blackberry and take the wife across to:
- As a shareholder I have a vested interest in the company succeedding so I should disclose that first.
- I hate anything to do with Apple - when I use my wifes devices for something It reminds me how bad IOS acutally is. IOS is like Windows 3.11 compared to XP is to Android.
- I dont like any other Doid device out there except Galaxy and the battery life is the pain of my existance. I love the phone and ICE but I cant stand the batterly life!
- Believe RIM will now move to leader in the quadrant in terms of innovation - the rest are well and truly behind now. Galaxy III is still sitting on the same OS, sure the phone looks a little more sleeker now but thing new really.

I can live with my Galaxy until BB10 but I really want a PB NOW!!! Anyone have any idea when LTE/HSDPA/3G will be on the shelves?

The only things I don't like are the hideous grey bar with the three icons at the bottom of the page. Please at least make it translucent in the final version or get rid of it entirely and just leave the icons or have a swipe up gesture to access it or something. It's to much like the first version of nokia belle and it is ugly. The other thing is the labels under the apps when minimized. They don't really need to be there but if they must same thing, at least make them translucent. Thanks. Otherwise it looks awesome and I can't wait to give RIM my money for it on day 1.

Personally, I've buckled down for the 4 month wait, I have my BB 9900, check, my PB with OS 2.1 on it, check, and this just happens to be the mating season for us so I have things to do that will keep me occupied until they release the darn thing!

I really hope they wrap it in something really expensive looking so everyone needs to buy it so as not to look like an iPhone with a case( that makes it look like every other iPhone), or a cheap plastic breakable case like all of the others. No, this one needs to look awesome!!! Can't wait! Oh, I said that already.

God I can't wait, and I am so with you on the keyboard. I didn't know how I was going to do a full touch unless rim got swype, but to me this is even better. I am so trying to be patient, but it is def getting hard. I would rather wait for a complete os but I want it now!!! Lol

Why does this post say Q4 for BB10...I know we all suspect October which is in Q4 but so far the line from RIM is latter (not later!) 2012. Which is Q3 or Q4...could come September (or earlier...I can dream....)

Was going to defect to Android a few weeks ago after the contract on my 9800 expired, but looking at this and the other BB10 stuff has convinced me to enter a holding pattern and just get a 90 day SIM-only contract using my current BB which to be honest, is one of the best handsets I've ever had.

I'm looking forward to owning a BB10 handset, but for the love of god RIM, if it's not ready then don't release it! ( From a customer of the original 9500 Storm on .65 ).

Given that 2 years in, WP still doesn't have transit directions in Bing Maps (while ironically Bing Maps on the PlayBook does!), I've decided my Lumia 710 won't get replaced by another WP. I was eyeing the Meizu MX as a suitable next phone (ICS really brought in some huge improvements to Android), but BB10 has replaced that. My 710 will serve me fine for the next year. Kind of funny, I've bounced back and forth between Nokia and BlackBerry for a while now. E62->Pearl 8100->N95 8GB->5230->Curve 9300->Lumia 710->Bold 10000???

Wow! After seeing these pictures of BB10, I cannot wait any longer. My heart is pounding and my blood pressure way up high. My Iphone 4S doesn't mean anything to me anymore. I must have it now! I'll have my Iphone 4S listed on Ebay so that I can get BB10. BB10, here I come... I am in love with you...

No, it's definitely a webOS cards/stacks UI look and feel. And that's a good thing. Microsoft looked at iOS, copied the foundation and implemented it with a fresh UI. RIM looked at webOS, copied the UI and implemented it with a fresh foundation. Given that even WP, iOS5 and ICS haven't caught up with webOS on the UI level, what RIM has done here is very good.

I already like the UI and behaviour of my PlayBook better than what I've seen from the Windows 8 CP, so I know BB10 will be even further along. WP8 will barely even be playing catch up to BB10, more just playing leapfrog with Android until Google comes out with the next major overhaul (that's likely going to be in response to BB10, just like ICS was largely in response to WP7)

I have been waiting to bb10 to make a desicion on what to upgrade. Like 2 months ago my aunt wants my iphone4 so I decide to give her my iphone in exchange for a bb bold 9900. Now my upgrade is coming very soon I believe for this holidays. And that bb10 looks like something that's going to be too good to bypass. Just have to wait for apps and quality of apps.

Obviously not but I love the ease of use of just tapping (I own a 9800) and not going all over the screen, I have huge hands and I find 3.2" screen a hassle and iphone 3.5" LOL; Im lazy so imagine a 4.2" display

The difference is that this was not demoed in the hands of a RIM guy, he actually tried these out for himself. That is excellent. However we seem to be seeing the same apps, the same parts of the OS, even the same icons. In other words yes it's cool but these are carefully controlled previews and rightly so.
There is no point in spoiling BB10's thunder by giving away too much details, if anything RIM should be talking about stuff like device code names (or proper, final ones even) if they really want to show BB10 is coming.

This homescreen is definitely different from what we have seen out by other systems, but I think it will function perfectly for what RIM is aiming this device at. They have made it clear it is for people who get sh*t done, and it is not supposed to compete directly towards Apple's media market. It is for business use, but also has amazing media capabilities but they will market it to their strengths. The homescreen is different and I can't wait to get my hands on and decide for myself if it works how I would want it to.

But for business use, the 3 icons at the bottom are the most commonly used ones, you use your phone (seeing at this will be a phone, not a computer), you use search function to find documents within the device, and take pictures, the only one I would like to see changed possibly is pictures and they should allow users to customize what is put on the bottom if the phone, but ultimately the camera app would be the only one I may change for a browser or something...but then again the homescreen will probably have the browser as a minimized app for me always so thats not a big deal.

It is an interesting layout thats forsure, and I am soooo excited to get my hands on a BB10 phone when they release! and I think I will love it no matter what they decide to throw on that homepage! GO RIM!

It's unfortunate that the former RIM management dallied for so long before handing over the reins although the acquisitions of QNX and TAT were masterstrokes. But introducing BB10 following the successive launches by Samsung and Apple, they run the risk of getting lost in the noise
It's going to take a massive media blitz to get some meaningful face time with the marketplace. But I'm rooting for Blackberry.

CrackBerry is in no way Affiliated with BlackBerry. We take pride in our unbiased content, however do occasionally receive free products from vendors that we review or discuss. For more info click here.